Five Questions: Former Legislator Transfers His Energy To DPUC

Kevin DelGobbo

RICK HARTFORD / THE HARTFORD COURANT

"I personally cut my energy bill by a third just by installing compact fluorescent bulbs and by turning off ... the power strips that my computer and cable TV are connected to, says Kevin DelGobbo, a commissioner on the state Department of Public Utility Control.

"I personally cut my energy bill by a third just by installing compact fluorescent bulbs and by turning off ... the power strips that my computer and cable TV are connected to, says Kevin DelGobbo, a commissioner on the state Department of Public Utility Control. (RICK HARTFORD / THE HARTFORD COURANT)

DAVID HOLAHANSpecial to The Courant

Former state Rep. Kevin DelGobbo, a Republican from Naugatuck, was appointed in January as one of five commissioners of the state Department of Public Utility Control. His specialty on the authority is electric industry issues. As a legislator, he co-authored the 2005 Energy Independence Act and was a member of the governor's working group on developing Connecticut's Energy Vision.

Q: As a legislator, you supported a bill that required investment in efficiency before building new power plants and transmission lines. Earlier this year, the DPUC approved the first state energy plan based on that law but rejected any increase in efficiency investment. Isn't that short-sighted?

A: A lot of parties, like the Connecticut DEP, argued that we have to be as aggressive as possible. The challenge is how to implement what we have to do right now along with working into the mix energy-efficient projects. I guess the short answer is we're trying to create a rational path to get where we want to be while realizing that customers today are finding it difficult to pay a single penny more. So I don't call it short-sighted. It's the reality of where we sit today.

Q: I had an energy audit through the Home Energy Solutions program. The fee was subsidized by the state's Energy Efficiency Fund, which is funded by electric ratepayers. The program has been put on hold because the administration was apparently eyeing that money to help balance the budget. Is that still the case?

A: Based on the most recent discussions between the governor's office and legislative leaders, as I understand them, it looks like raiding that fund is not going to happen.

Q: What's the single most important thing that Connecticut can do to be more energy efficient and generate fewer greenhouse gases?

A: This may sound to some like a slogan, but one of the governor's initiatives was "Do One Thing." I personally cut my energy bill by a third just by installing compact fluorescent bulbs and by turning off what are called energy vampires, the power strips that my computer and cable TV are connected to.

Q: How will federal stimulus money help expand the energy-efficiency programs that have been in such high demand?

A: What's exciting about it is there's a huge multiplier. To the extent that an individual household is able to do greater conservation measures, not only are they saving themselves money and contributing to a better environment, but they are actually saving other customers money because conservation results in less of a need to build expensive capacity, like a new electrical generating plant.

Q: You sound like one Republican who might have voted for Obama's stimulus package.